Matthew wrote to show that Christ
was the
Messiah and fulfilled the Jewish prophecies.

If
your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him
alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he
does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may
be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses
to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the
church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I
say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, if two
of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be
granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

When
someone sins against us, what is the proper Christian response? Throughout the
Gospels, Jesus teaches us the importance of forgiveness as both a reflection of
God's mercy and a means for healing and unity among all people. He speaks to us
of turning the other cheek, praying for our enemies and showing mercy to our
persecutors.

In
His darkest hour on Calvary, Jesus offers us an extraordinary example of mercy
when He prayed, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they do,” (Lk
23:34). Jesus offers mercy to those who sentenced Him to death and nailed Him to
the cross. When we find it challenging to forgive another person, praying with
this Scripture passage is a powerful and fruitful source of healing and
motivation.

Jesus
also teaches us that our salvation is directly related to our ability to
forgive. “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will
forgive you,” He says. “But if you do not forgive others, neither will your
Father forgive your transgressions,” (Mt 6:14-15).

Forgiveness
requires great virtue, including the exercise of humility, courage and
compassion. It is in forgiving others that we grow in holiness and allow God's
grace to heal bonds that are so easily broken through our sinfulness and the
sinfulness of others. Over and over again, we will have the opportunity to grow
in holiness through the practice of forgiveness as Peter found out when He tried
to find a limit to how often a Christian needs to forgive a person who sins
against them: “As many as seven times?” Peter asked. “Not seven, but
seventy-seven,” Jesus replied (cf. Mt 18:21-22).

We
must realize, however, that Jesus is not telling us to confront the sinful party
out of vengeance or righteousness. It is not an action to help us cope with and
heal from the wounds the other has inflicted on us (although that may be a
result). No, the reason for the interaction is not for us at all. We are called
to forgive. We are called to love. We are called to compassion.

Jesus
asks us to tell the sinner his fault for his sake — for his conversion, for his
self-awareness. Perhaps he does not know the damage he has done. Perhaps he will
be moved by seeing the pain he has caused us or react to the forgiveness we
offer in our explanation. Perhaps we are giving him the opportunity to apologize
and find healing. By approaching him, we allow God an opportunity to touch the
soul of a sinner. We perform an act of charity for someone who has sinned
against us.

Too
often, when we are hurt by another, the last person we tell about the sin is the
person who committed it against us. Rather, our first reaction is to find
sympathy by complaining to others or to spread the news of a sinful act that
will damage the other's reputation. Unlike confronting someone out of care for
their soul, this kind of response is selfish and sinful. It does not bring
healing but instead brings more division and pain.

It
is difficult to confront people who have hurt us. They have injured us,
diminished the trust we have for them, and left a wound that requires
forgiveness to be healed. May God give us the grace to recognize the people we
have yet to forgive, the people we have forgiven but still need to offer the
opportunity to apologize to us and the people to whom we need to apologize.
Christ calls us to be one body in Him (Jn 17:21-23). Let us be instruments of
that Christian unity in our lives and the lives of others.